In a surprise move, China today asked Sri Lanka to “make efforts to protect and promote human rights”, backing calls by India, Britain and other countries at the CHOGM summit in Colombo to address allegations of rights abuses against the country’s minority Tamils.
“Due to the differences in the economic and social development of different countries, there could be differences on human rights protection,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang told a media briefing in Beijing.
“So what is important is that the relevant country should make efforts to protect and promote human rights while other countries in the world should provide constructive assistance,” he said.He was replying to a question on human rights issues clouding the just-concluded CHOGM summit and British Prime Minister David Cameron’s statement that his country will push for an international probe by the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) if Sri Lanka does not address its human rights issues by March next year.
“This is an issue within the Commonwealth. But at the same time, I believe that on the human rights issue, dialogue and communication should be enhanced among countries,” Qin said. “We always maintained that on the human rights issues, countries around the world should enhance mutual understanding through dialogue and communication and take constructive means to promote the development of the international human rights cause,” he said.
This is perhaps for the first time that China was vocal about Sri Lanka addressing the human rights issue, as Beijing which in recent years has beefed up its ties with Colombo with billions of dollars of aid, voted against the resolutions passed by UNHRC in 2011 and 2012 censuring Colombo for its alleged rights violations during the war against the LTTE.
India, in contrast, had voted for the resolution. Qin’s comments came as China was elected to the UNHRC this year and is expected to play a role if Cameron decides to implement his ultimatum to Sri Lanka to deal with its human rights issues by March 2014 failing which the UK will work with the UNHRC to push for international investigations into alleged war crimes against the Sri Lankan Tamils.
Though not a member of the Commonwealth, much of the infrastructure for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Colombo was funded by China, including a USD 292 million highway connecting the capital’s international airport to the main city, that transported thousands of delegates.
Courtesy PTI
Piranha / November 19, 2013
OMG! Even China complaining about human rights in Sri Lanka?
Mahinda must be shi**ing in his amude.
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Maveeran / November 19, 2013
LOL @ the uneducated Sinhala people who praised Mahinda Jarawapaka as a hero for building Katunayake Airport Express highway. Nothing is funded by the President but only piled up into into the pockets of him and his Theif Ministers of Srilanka. What a shame to this Country these Moda Sinhalese bring :-/
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Upasiri de Silva / November 19, 2013
The KP factor is working with Tamil Diaspora to get what Prabakaran was fighting for 30 odd years. North & East is their aim, and Rajapaksa brothers due to their eagerness to make every thing for Mahinda, Namal, Yositha and the younger sibling to take the entire Sri Lanka under their control. KP paid his way out to beat the lifetime accommodation in a American prison as a Mass murderer and now making Rajapaksa regime look like small children.
China’s biggest investment is in Australia, and these investments are exceeding US $ 100 billion, and as the Chinese Economy is sliding down, they need to be good with the US and other western powers. Russia a very long time friend of India may not abandon India for Sri Lanka.
Mahinda should learn how world politics works. It is very much different to Medamulana Foreign Policy with his wandi battayous like Keheliya, Nimal et.el.
The poisonous challis Malinda was given by the Commonwealth is going to be very heavy for him to carry for two years. The Diaspora Tamils are of the view that KP, Karuna, Pilliyan, George Master and others will bring the Tamil Homeland for them and who knows US$ billions in the LTTE kitty may go for them to buy the needy friend for 2014 March final assault in Geneeva.
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bunta / November 19, 2013
Ask china to sort their human rights before they point their finger at others because their people do not have the basic human rights such as having no more than one child.
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Point of View / November 19, 2013
Good idea. Why not ask the President to have a press conference or better go on CNN or BBC and tell China off !
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Crazyoldmansl / November 19, 2013
China has become our closest friend and is committed to the development of the island. It is good to see that china realizes that for development to succeed certain basic principles have to be rendered operational. Although I do not think that the worship of the doctrine of human rights is one of them China seems to think so. I hope that China also recognizes the need to remove the culture of impunity that prevails and restore the independence of the judiciary if the islands sovereignty is to be recognized and accepted as having any degree of integrity.
The entire world professes to be moving in the direction of law based governance with due process and no room for impunity, the eradication of rape and sexual offenses of all sorts and an increasing role for women in governance, the eradication of torture and murder and the institution of the kind of transparency that is being demanded.
From the time of independence however we have been building a society where impunity rules, due process is ignored, the media is forced into submission, impunity reigns and women are under represented in governance and both legislature and the judiciary are directed by and subject to the executive. The opposition is increasingly colluding with this project so that a change in government will make no difference.
The only way to avoid calamity is to change direction – NOT change government. The question is whether we are willing to change direction and even if we are willing to change direction whether we will be allowed to change direction or killed for advocating a change of direction. China must help us build the space and freedom required to make this change and join the rest of the world.
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Levi / November 19, 2013
Crazyoldmansl
It is not exactly as you said. The money lender is worried about the return of the money lent.
They have now realised that if this trend continues the loans will not be serviced.
China will definitely have to make room to ensure safety of their investment and the Interest thereon.
Lets Hope for the Best for Sri Lanka.
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crazyoldmansl / November 19, 2013
Levi, China has lent sri lanka a pittance! China has huge reserves. I have met many chinese, most of them young and highly educated and they understand the growing global ideology of human rights as well as its strategic usage, very very well.
China can very clearly see that sri lanka is governed by a bunch of thieving, thugs who have brought the country to its knees by encourging a culture of impunity and the subversion of the independence of the judicial system. (Impressively formulated no? coming from a madman! Not even the best sinhala buddhist politicians can say things to clearly and hit the nail on the head so hard. Not even the disc jockey with his grandfather Gramsci and PhD in political science no?)
And China is not going to back a bunch of fools who are going to follow Hitler, Gaddhaffi and Hussain into oblivion.
Let me make clear the fact that the Chinese are intelligent hard working people who are willing and happy to be our partners in development in which they are willing and able to invest hard cash unlike India. Those of us who want a better tomorrow must deepen our ties with China and understand the Chinese approach to Global Development and the concepts and strategies that underlie Chinese global strategic equations.
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Levi / November 19, 2013
Crazyoldmansl
It is not exactly that.
The leander is now worried about the money lent.
China has no alternative but to see that things eemain calm and people work hard to repay the cebt.
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crazyoldmansl / November 19, 2013
Levi, this is sheer ignorance! Have you actually met and interacted with chinese people and I am not talking about the Chinese sex workers who are being used to addle the brains of our political leaders and key government officials. I am talking about young, educated chinese men and women who are standing in line to inherit the governance of their country and the leadership of its many large business operations as well as the ranks of its academia as well as its professional bodies.
They are people who have the freedom to look critically at their governance systems and recommend changes thereto. Soon they will become as powerful as the USA and they will surpass India with its inherent conservatism unless India learns how to give its students the freedom to question their professors and not fear tht they will be failed at their exams if they do so.
China understands that sri lanka is a gone case and that it is impossible to operate in an atmosphere of impunity where the independence of the judiciary has been subverted and where due legal process does not exists, in short a one man show. So get out and meet the real China.
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Levi / November 19, 2013
Evan China???????
Very Sad indeed!!!!
Sri Lanka, Sinhala Buddhists, together with Minister For Justice has reached Bottom of the Cycle for China to react.
The Pile has finally struck Base Rock.
Solid Nation Could be built on piles unceasingly driven for for past 65years.
Wake up before it is too Late.
Shylock is going to ask for his pound of flesh. This time he is wiser and has added new clauses to prevent interception by Portica.
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Javi / November 20, 2013
“”Wake up before it is too Late.””
Never spend your money before you have earned it.
It’s never too late to address the root cause of the problem not the symptoms: Like the Chinese we have to be objective after the 65 years of ramming.
Just like the Chinese one party who respect Buddhism as a philosophy put the 40k tatte motte in one place like Gautanmo Bay at Katchi.
The Chinese have the original discourse with Gautama because they had a language while Mahawamse poppycock is a concoction after 500years same as Mormon’s saying Jesus born in the USA.
0:3
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Ahamed / November 19, 2013
China is throwing stones from a glass house…Oops! Unfortunately, it is a bullet-proof glass house!
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WINSTON DE VALLIERE / November 19, 2013
AHAME,
CHINA IS MAKING A LONG TERM PLAY TO BREAK THE WESTERN MONOPOLY OF THE UN. THAT WILL BE HOPEFULLY ACHIEVED WITH THE FRIENDLY NATIONS EARMARKED IN ITS ‘STRING OF PEARL’
FOR THAT OBJECTIVE IT NOW HAS TO CHANGE POSITION AND SUDDENLY BECOME A HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER IN AN EFFORT TO WIPE THE DIRT OFF HER FACE.HER BACKERS AT THE UN MUST ALSO NOT HAVE DIRT ON THEIR FACES. CLEAN CANDIDATES SO TO SAY.
AS LEVI SAYS, YES, CHINA WILL ALSO LEND SRI LANKA SUCH ENORMOUS SUMS THAT IT WILL BE IMPOSSIBLE TO PAY BACK AND HAS BECOME A HUGE SWORD IN HER HANDS OVER RI LANKA.
THE DIG AT SRI LANKA WAS NOT REALLY MEANT HOWEVER TO GET MR SHUDDERING BUT IS PART OF CHINA’S PLOY TO CREATE A NEW ” CLEAN” IMAGE FOR HERSELF THAT WILL LEND HER SOME CREDENTIALS WHEN SHE RALLIES HER BACKERS, INCLUDING THE RAJAPAKSAS, TO CREATE A NEW POWER BLOC WITHIN THE UN.
TAKEN TOGETHER WITH HER STRING OF PEARLS DYNAMIC CHINA WILL BY THE CLOE OF THIS DECADE BE ABLE TO NEGATE ANY WEST BACKED MOVE AT THE UN FOR TRADE AND HIPPING SANCTION ON CHINA SHOULD SHE MAKE A HUGE MILITARY PLAY TO WREST CONTROL OF TAIWAN AND THE SOUTH CHINA ISLANDS DISPUTED BY JAPAN. IF YOU STUDY THE STRING OF PEARLS YOU WILL SEE THAT IT STRETCHES ALL THE WAY FROM THE SUEZ CANAL TO CHINA’S SHORES,,, AND MR IS SLAP BANG IN THE MIDDLE OF IT WITH HAMBANTOTA AND MATTALA RIPE FOR PICKINGS
CHINA IS MERELY TRYING OUT HER BARGAINING CHIP WITH MR AND THE JACKASS HAS LET HIS SUPER EGO LEAD HIM DEEP, DEEP, DEEP INTO THE CHINESE NET.
WHEN YOU SWIM WITH A SHARK, BROTHER, YOUR BALLS A’INT SAFE
MY BET IS THAT BEIJING WILL BE CALLING ON COLOMBO LONG BEFORE THE UNHRC SITS DOWN COME MARCH,
I’D SAY THE STAGE IS SET FOR A CHINA BACKED PLAN TO LAUNCH A DOMESTIC WAR CRIMES PROBE, WITH CHINESE ASSURANCES TO THE UN, JUST TO SAVE MR’S
SKIN.
SO MUCH FOR GLP’S MUCH VAUNTED BRAINS.
DON’T REALLY KNOW WHY BUT FOR SOME REASON I HAVE THIS DESIRE TO SHOUT “ASSHOLES’…IF YOU WILL EXCUSE MY INCLINATIONS…AND IT DOES NOT STOP SHORT OF SIRI KOTHA OR CAMBRIDGE PLACE EITHER.
ASSHOLES. SORRY. DO EXCUSE ME.
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vishvaith / November 19, 2013
Interesting observation Winston.
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Native Vedda / November 19, 2013
WINSTON DE VALLIERE
” HOPEFULLY ACHIEVED WITH THE FRIENDLY NATIONS EARMARKED IN ITS ‘STRING OF PEARL’”
String of pearl is not our problem. It is India’s problem and let them deal with it.
As Levi says the loans may become a huge problem, hence China also wants to see a stable island. If a regime change is inevitable and best future option, China will not hesitate to support it. Until such time they will try to sit on the fence. China also knows there is life after a regime change.
In all these strategic environment the rulers of this island make sure that they are happy to continue their self destructive trait. Given that the history of 1980s is still fresh in our mind I bet another disaster awaiting to happen.
Could some one tell the rulers they have to stop digging if ever they want to get out of the pit.
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WINSTON DE VALLIERE / November 20, 2013
NATIVE, AGREE VERY MUCH WITH YOU. BUT TWO POINTS ON WHICH THERE ARE DOIFFERENT SLANTS…AND, I THINK VALID, ARE :
GUESS THE RAJALSKAS WILL NOT, CAN’T , QUIT NOW. THEY’VE GONE TOO FAR AND THE PIT’S CAVING IN ON THEM. MANY IN THE GOVERNMENT THOUGH WILL WANT TO QUIT AND POSSIBLY MAKE A LAST MOMENT SHIFT TO PROP CBK BACK INTO THE PRESIDENCY. MUCH ACTION BEHIND THE SCENES GOING ON IN THAT DIRECTION ACCORDING TO RELIABLE NEWS REACHING HERE WHERE I AM.. BUT YES, YOU’RE RIGHT IN THAT THERE’S A MASSIVE DISASTER WAITING TO HAPPEN.
PART OF INDIA’S CONCERN ABOUT THE STRING OF PEARLS IS PRECISELY THE FACT THAT MR HAS FALLEN INTO CHINA’S TRAP TO EXPLORE A NUCLEAR CO-OPERATION RELATIONSHIP WITH HER. AND THAT’S FRAUGHT WITH FACTORS WHICH ARE VERY MUCH INDIA’S CONCERN.SRI LANKA’S STUPIDITY HAS ALERTED THE US, INDIA, CANADA, AUSTRALIA, UK AND EU INTO AN ANTI-RAJAPAKSA POSITION AND WILL WOEK HARD FOR A REGIME CHAANGE.SO YOU;RE SPOT ON BECAUSE THAT’S A CSNARIO THAT CAN TRIGGER THE HUGE ” DIASTER THAT’S WITING TO HAPPEN”
WE SIMPLY CANNOT TAKE GEO=POLITICALLY INVASIVE DECISIONS WHICH THREATEN THE SECURITY INTERESTS OF OTHER PLAYERS AND EXPECT THEM TO FOLD UP JUST BECAUSE MR IS STUPID ENOUGH TO THINK SO. OR, IS HE EVEN CAPABLE OF GRASPING THESE RAMIFICATIONS ?
IF SAJITH COMES IN AS AN INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE TO MAKE RANIL A LOSER AND CBK BREAKS THE BACK OF MR’S SUPPORT, I FEAR THE LAT VESTIGES OF DEMOCRACY WILL VANISH IN RIOTS WHICH WILL GIVE MR THE OPTION OF BRINGING IN MILITARY CONTROL. FRANKLY, I DON’T SEE HIM TAMELY SUCCUMBING TO AN ELECTORAL DEFEAT. INDIA WILL WEIGH IN HEAVILY FOR AN OPPOSITION CANDIDATE AT ELECTION TIME AND WILL WORK HAR FOR A REGIME CHANGE. FROM WHICHEVER ANGLE ONE LOOKS AT IT, IN THE ULTIMATE ESSAY, WHAT YOU SAY WILL INEVITABLY HAPPEN.
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vishvaith / November 20, 2013
NV, would the Chinese Regime Change plan include the Bandaranaike’s ? an accepted name in the West too.
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Javi / November 20, 2013
“plan include the Bandaranaike’s ?”
Romeo Juliet Chu Lie and Hande Matine mummy mummy sakabu !
Chandrika loves cowboy LongJohn the spam creators. Mugabe loves Rajaporkistn and his citizens.
;)
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Native Vedda / November 22, 2013
vishvaith
I am not sure whether the Chinese have their own regime change plan however if initiated by others China might just tag along with West and India and they are alone not in a position to rock the boat.
They will of course would want to have a bigger share of the spoils.
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crazyoldmansl / November 19, 2013
Pretty much on the spot. And we simply do not have the human resources capable of dealing with this level of sophistry. Did you see that Chris Nonis chap on TV? And the best corporate brains are falling over to lick his you know what thinking that this conceited show by a spoiled kid with limited mental abilities was an excellent performance. That shows very clearly the type of people we have at our disposal apart from the crude thugs, rapists and murderers who these very fools vote into power.
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srilal / November 19, 2013
calm down guys , this statement came out as only a result of Q&A session , china is trying very hard to be the world leader , there are so many visible changes i.e 24×7 CCTV news coverage , reforms , open court hearings on corrupt government officials , lifting one child policy etc but Chinese can’t erase that big black mark on their appalling human rights record (1989 Tinamen square ) may be this is one such occasion to show the world that china does take human right seriously.
PS: amidst all these chaos , as usual who is going to be benefited ? of course its MR , he will declare the whole world is out there to take me to the electric chair for eradicating terrorism from SL , so please show the gratitude by electing me as your president again and again , end of the story.
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JimSofty / November 19, 2013
Tamils are having orgasm by reading this.
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gamini / November 19, 2013
Jim so you are having lose motions?
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Point of View / November 19, 2013
Don’t embarrass him. That’s his orgasm !
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Maveeran / November 20, 2013
Lol. Jim gets his orgasms commenting on CT. Low caste rodiya (Sinhala) people who came from the Orissa are showing the whole world what their ancestors did for 100’s of years. This is why if you bring a street dog to your house no Matter how much you bathe it and looked after it, the street dog at the end of the day it will crap on your hall way. Sinhalese are the same.
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Anehabatamamehemathnataka / November 20, 2013
But rodies are found more among tamils not that I knew other way around.
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Maveeran / November 20, 2013
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rodiya_language
All Rodhiya’s are Sinhalese and you lot were kept to entertain Tamil kings.
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Native Vedda / November 20, 2013
Maveeran
“All Rodhiya’s are Sinhalese and you lot were kept to entertain Tamil kings.”
Stupid man show me some evidence or research papers other than Mahawamsa where Rodiya history is mentioned.
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Siri / November 20, 2013
This is funny.
I would not go after the caste system.
This alone shows what mentality you should bear.
Those tamils that have sought refugee on the west, remains as coolies as everyone could see it – that alone proves who the y are. Some of them are from very low family backgrounds. This they the europeans notice slowly.
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Wickramasiri / November 21, 2013
Maveeran, I defend the street dog. You will notice that infact it does not crap in your hallway unlike the pedigreed kind. They crap in the neighbour’s yard.
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Anpu / November 19, 2013
No one(China, USA, India, UK,…) need to ask GOSL. What they need to do simply follow Buddhism. https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/accountability-president-rajapaksa-and-the-lord-buddha/
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Banda / November 19, 2013
This report is a word to word copy from the Zee News.
As I see it either this reporter is mad or completely off track. How could “USD 292 million highway connecting the capital’s international airport to the main city” can be highlighted as an infrastructure for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM),” or interpret as made to “transport thousands of delegates” to it. Truth is Construction of that highway was commenced long before CHOGM was awarded to Sri Lanka two years back in Perth.
The most important part of the statement by the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang written in it is “Due to the differences in the economic and social development of different countries, there could be differences on human rights protection,” and “make efforts to protect and promote human rights.” To see whether China is standing with hypocrites like the UK or it is standing with the genuine effort making Sri Lanka on ‘Human Rights’, one has to wait till next March. I bet Cameron knows the outcome at UNHRC next March. What more to say if Pilley is already upset about the choice of countries that were elected as new members.
It seems some Indian journalist are living on fools paradise.
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Native Vedda / November 19, 2013
Banda
Go away, do little bit of reading on ancient irrigation history. Then come back and tell us how much you do know.
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Mervyn Silva / November 19, 2013
Hik Hik!
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Wickramasiri / November 19, 2013
Many seem to be ecstatic at the Chinese statement whilst others are despondent or downright outraged. Imad, Sivathasan and Crazyoldman have got it right. China made a statement because it sees the need to indicate to Sri Lanka that HR is important. China also sees the need to have it’s opinion heard by the rest of the world. It’s statement is one of support to Sri Lanka, just as much as India tried to do from 2009 to about 2011, which Sri Lanka ignored (and rebelled against) at it’s peril.
This statement is good for the Sri Lankan people who desire true democracy, rule of law, and particularly human rights. We need the Bench and the Bar to be fully committed to dispensing and defending the rights of the citizen regardless of ethnicity and religion, regardless of whether one is rich or poor, powerful or powerless. Therefore all the Independent Commissions must be restored to the level of 17A and 18A must be repealed. Let us hear China’s call on that.
There is always a tendency to retain power amongst some leaders. Sirima did it by extending her tenure, JR pondered over it, so did Chandrika. It is only Mahinda who has ensured his continuity by introducing legislation, an action reflecting poorly on his character. The resulting authoritarianism is oppressive. Citizens need all the freedoms within the law to be creative, innovative and dynamic, if this country is to progress. The present oppression inhibits thought and expression, and stultifies the human spirit. Rajapaksa’s ‘command and obey’ system is producing only servile yes men, a population of serfs, ruled by pompous self-serving masters. Is this the progress we long for? Why do we citizens have to live in fear and awe of our politicians, whether parliamentary, provincial, or local? Who are these people attempting to subjugate us? How long are we going to tolerate it?
In that context I welcome the Chinese statement, though I am not optimistic that Rajapaksa understands it’s importance to the citizen in this so called democracy. He has to stop thinking of what’s in it for him, and realize this is about the citizens and not about him. Let us hope China will twist his small finger.
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WINSTON DE VALLIERE / November 20, 2013
WICKRAMAIRI,
THE WAY I SEE IT CHINA IS MAKING A BRILLIANT MOVE HERE TO MAKE IT APPEAR THAT SHE TOO IS TAKING MR TO TASK IN A MILDER WAY.
THAT VERY FACT WILL SUFFICE, AFTER SOME PERSONAL LEVEL CHATS, TO CLEAR THE AIR, AND PERSUADE MR THAT IN FACT CHINA WILL NOT PRESS THE ISSUE IN INTERNATIONAL FORA BUT WILL, TO THE CONTRARY,DEFEND MR’S CAT-AND-MOUSE GAME IN WHICH HE ENDLESSLY COMES UP WITH THAT NEVER ENDING AND THREADBARE PLEA FOR ” SPACE, DON’T PRESSURE US” RESPONSE.RUSSIA WILL BACK CHINA TO THE HILT AT THE UN. THERE’S A BLOCKBUSTER IN THE OFFINF AT TH NEXT UNHRC MEET.
WITH SUFFICIENT VOICES DRUMMED UP BY CHINA AT THE UN, THAT PLOY WILL GET MR OFF THE HOOK AND DEEPER INTO BEIJING’S WARM EMBRACE…… AND SRI LANKA SLAP BANG IN THE MIDDLE OF A SUPER POWER FRAY.
GUESS WHY ABBOT IS SIDLING UP TO MR ?
MY READING IS THAT A CHINESE MARINE BLOCKADE IN THE REGION WILL SERIOUSLY ENDANGER AUSSIE AND NEW ZEALAND CARGO MOVEMENTS FROM THE ARAB GULF, INDIAN OCEAN AND PACIFIC AREAS AND CHOKE THEIR ECONOMIES WITH DISASTROUS IMPACT. GOOD RAPPORT WITH MR COULD BE AUSTRALIA’S AND THE KIWIS FEEBLE, BUT ONLY TOOL NOW AT HAND TO NEGATE CHINESE PLANS VIS-A-VIS SRI LANKA.
SINGH WAS EAGER TO ATTEND CHOGM EXPRESSLY DUE TO THESE CONFIGURATIONS WHICH ARE MOVING INTO PLACE. THE TAMIL NADU FACTOR WAS TOO BIG AN IMPEDIMENT. CHINA MIGHT HAVE BEEN LAUGHING THEIR HEARTS AWAY DURING CHOGM I PERSONALLY SEE CLOSER DEFENCE TIES BETWEEN THE US AND INDIA STOKED INTO FAST-FORWARD BECAUSE OF SIDELINE DEVELOPMENT ARISING OUT OF THE COLOMBO CHOGM.IT WAS EASY TO SEE THAT CHOGM WAS THE CATALYST FOR NEW INDIAN OCEAN-PACIFIC-ASIA REGION BATTLE LINES TO BE DRAWN.
IN CHINA’S STRING OF PEARLS SRI LANKA IS BEING NEATLY SUCKERED INTO WHAT WILL BE AN IRRETRIEVABLE POSITION IF EXTERNAL FORCES PERMIT THINGS TO PROGRESS ALONG THESE LINES.
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Senguttuvan / November 20, 2013
China moves from a dirt poor country under Mao’s years to its present position as the world’s 2nd largest economy. In the one but last People’s Congress their pragmatic decisions are reported to have lifted nearly 200 million rural poor to middle-class levels. This growing wealth results in the people of China asking for the same quality of life that the West enjoys (i.e. a Per Capita in close to the average one in West of US$40,000) That includes freedom of movement, expression, religious rights, thought, assembly and so forth. Naturally, countries with suspect HR records will no longer be their cup of tea. The Rajapakses are best advised to reformulate their policies – not to rely on China all the while – bearing the example of Sudan in mind. Retaining the friendship of China, India and the West is in the interest of the Rajapakse regime.
Senguttuvan
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hannah.rajaratnam / November 20, 2013
China finally gave the warning to Sri Lanka.They have hput the screws on.The harbor,Nelun Pokuna etc etc – were a joy ride for the President and his brothers.Money from China lined the brother’s pockets.
It will be interesting from now on to note the India/China relationship?
Perhpas the Pearl Chain is slowly falling off the realisation that they cannot trust Sri Lanka running to various coutries with their begging bowl and not working hard to make the economy grow.Like the Indians the Chinese are very hard working people,it has made the countries proud and economically very stable.
Sri Lanka has shown none of these.Crying about the war is over.
The realisation with the warning will be a hard hit.
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Bensen Burner / November 22, 2013
China with its new President reputed for being very capable and intelligent, with its newly acquired status as an increasingly wealthy country, its standing in the topmost of diplomatic circles, with more than 52 ethnic communities enjoying equality within cannot be seen continuing to fund Sri Lanka to camouflage its human rights violations with stories of infrastructure development. Bensen
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